The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-11
THE LEVERS OF BUSINESS.
Annual Reunion of the Commercial
Travellers of Indiana at Terre Haute.
Pleasure and Business Happily Combined in
the Misunderstanding Of the Meeting
and What Was Said by the Speakers.

city TO Terre Haute four hundred people to at
tend the twelfth annual convention aud reunion
of the Commercial Travellers Of Indiana. There
were this train about three hundred CONNER
cial travellers, and the remaining one hundred
were wives and sisters of members Of the fra
ternity. The train gratuitous, being fur
bished by Riley Mckeen and the officers of the
road, and the travellers warmly appreciated this
kindness and courtesy. With the exception OF
brief stops at Greencastle and Brazil, the ride
was straight through. no passengers being taken
by the way 1t was sight to see the pleasant
familiarity Of the boys with the conductor, each
and every one of whom was an old and choice
acquaintance. The When Band was along, but
even without them there would have been music
all along the line as the tourists were out for
holiday.
On arriving at their destination, the Indian
apolis contingent were met at the depot by the
Terre Haute tourists and the delegation from
Evansville, Logansport, Lafayette and Vim
cennes-the ladies being sent up town in con-
veyances-and 70 the music of the Ringgold and
When bands marched to MAYORS Operations
where they at once proceeded to business. There
were about 450 members present, the largest
meeting that has ever been, and it is quite safe
to say that political convention Gould be called
together III Indiana-and that means no where
on earth-that would show so overwhelmingly
large proportion of keen, quickwitted, prac-
teal, thorough going business ike citizens. The
Terre Haute committee on arrangements. r. NJ.
Hollingsworth. James H. Jumper, Fl. E. Har-
rson, Theo Marsle and L. p Stone, had so adj
mirabiy planned tNat everything went off like
clock work. The Terre Haute business men, de-
termine ed their guests should be entertained to
the top limit of hospitality. had made up purse
of nearly 50, 600, one firm, Huffman & Co., con-
tributing $500, Henley & Watson, proprietors
of the National Hotel, extended the hospitality
of their house and refused remuneration. N.
and G. Dinner did the same, while other in
stances of abundant good will and welcome were
found on all hands.
Mayor Kolsem. upon the travellers being
seated in the opera house, made an address of
welcome. He said: eve fully appreciate that
In your advent amongst us we are enjoying the
privilege of entertaining a body of men who
constitute the very nerves of enterprise and
traffic, reaching out from the mercantile and
manufacturing center of our country into every
part of the entire body of industry, of COM
nerce and of trade 1t ia through your I'M
ceasng efforts as the nerves of this magnificent
| body that all its members quickened and
| stirred into continual activity. Surrounded as
| you constantly by the dangers incident to
| continual travel, your pursuits may be regarded
| as perpetual menace to the safety, the pros
| perlty aud the happiness of your families But
men with business instincts, such as you must
have. and with the practical knOwe ledge of the
| affairs of life which your daily experience must
| broaden and enhance, are not the persons who
ttv,11
compensation against apparent possibilities
! which enlightened observation and prudent
| foresight suggest" He then paid a compliment
to the beneficial organization, and concluded
! with hearty welcome to the city of Terre
/ Haute
George g. Webster jr.. of Indianapolis re-
! sponded. He said he had been on the road sew
| enteen years, and nothing could induce him to
| deny any of the many complimentary things
said BIZ the Mayor of the commercial travellers.
He said they were there TO legis1ate for the wild
! ow and the helpless ones. 1.-THE general public
seems to consider the commercial traveller as
/ harem -scarem. when, in truth, his heart yields
quickly to sympathy, and his hand is ever ready
| to relieve. Tho com mercial traveller. bullied by
| country merchants six days in the week, starved
| by close listed country landlords. fed upon by
| voracioUs country bed bugs five or six nights in
| the week. who will blame him if, when he comes
| home he will want to get down on his hands
| and knees and play dog with the children. Well
| the man who would must have the red corpus
| apprehend that when these men have been called
to take the last trip on the road of life, and the
| Conductor of the Universe shall have clipped the
| last coupon from the mileage book OF Time. over
there will swing the white light of safety thai
shall signal them on to that rest and peace they
have so noblv deserved"
President o. W. Moorman delivered his an
| nual address He spoke of the prosperous con
| dition of the organization and of its excellen
| financial standing. He suggested two three
amendments to the constitution, and urged tina
the reserve fund be maintained until it reached
100000 any accunulations over that to be paiC
out for death insurance.
At the conclusion of the address the presfden
appointed Messrs. Geo. ". Geiger, James r
Ross. c. N. Spencer, w. j. ROBBIE and A. J
Ralph q committee to whom should be referres
all amendments to the constitution and bylaws
| Amendments were presented to the committee
| IL J To change the qualification for mem bershi]
SO that applicants between the ages of twenty
one and forty five may enter, the present limi
Of age being forty years. t. To amend Articl
| 7 so that amendment shall hereafter be vote
upon until the members shall have had thirt
! days notice of the proposed change t3) Il
| change Article 2 OF the bylaws that the an
nual meeting be held in juno instead Of, now
| in January. The presidents address re
| ferred to the same committee.
ID. W. Coffin, secretary and treasurer, sub
mitted his report. There had been but tw
deaths during the year, Nate F. Smyth an
Charles F. Schmidt. There have been four as
| SoSSmentS OF FO eacU anu one OF Gl, MAKING &c
tai of S13 from each member for insurance o
ST. 800 To the benefit surplus fund, 81 52S ha
been placed during the year, making the accun
uated surplus SIS. SOFIA The assessment to tn
, National c. T. A amounted to $50 45: previou
years report of total membership, 500; now, Go:
The character of risks accepted have been of th
very best and only such as advised by the med
cal director DR.. E. S. Elder.
George c. Webster, chairman of the executiv
committee N. c. T. A., gave a report of the r,
: cent meeting of the National c. T. A. in Ne
York city.
During the routine work large number
the delegates, fully two-thirds, the noon hou
having arrived. left the Opera house to get luncf
con. The president cautioned the members tia
there was important business to be done an
they had better remain. Sam P. Porte
asked permission to say a few words O
a matter perhaps not strictly connecte
L Ahn c. q